Mori Motengai Haiku Monument
A haiku monument is located in Hojoen, in front of Dogo Onsen Honkan. It commemorates Mori Motengai (1864–1934), a politician and poet who served as the head of Dogo Yunomachi. He studied under Shiki and received the haiku name “Ten-gai.”
The Mori Motengai Haiku Monument is a haiku monument located in Hojoen in front of Dogo Onsen Honkan, commemorating Mori Motengai, a politician and haiku poet associated with Dogo.
Mori Motengai
Mori Motengai (real name Mori Kotaro, 1864–1934) was a politician who served as a member of the Ehime Prefectural Assembly, the mayor of Yodo Village, and the mayor of Dogo Yunomachi. Although he lost his sight due to an eye disease while serving as a member of the prefectural assembly, he became the mayor of Yodo Village in 1898, dedicating himself to village administration as Japan's first blind mayor. He also focused on education for the blind, establishing the private Ehime School for the Blind and Deaf (currently Ehime Prefectural Matsuyama School for the Blind) using his retirement allowance, and was appointed as the mayor of Dogo Yunomachi in 1932.
He was also excellent at haiku and studied under Masaoka Shiki. He received the haiku pen name "Tengai" from Shiki and called himself "Motengai."
Hojoen, where the haiku monument is located, is right in front of Dogo Onsen Honkan and can be visited along with the footbath and the Botchan Karakuri Clock.
Source: "Mori Kotaro" Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) Last verified: July 2026
More spots in Central Dogo Onsen Area
See all in this area →Dogo Kowakuen Haruka
A hot spring hotel on high ground near Dogo Onsen Honkan. It has a large top-floor bath, fed by piped hot spring water, that looks out over central Matsuyama, as well as private baths.
Wakamiya Pearl Dogo
Wakamiya Shinju Dogo. A pearl specialty shop in the Dogo Onsen district. Established in 1962, it handles necklaces, rings, and earrings made with Ehime pearls.
Tsuboya Kashiho
A long-established Dogo confectioner founded in 1883 (Meiji 16), said to be the model for the dango shop in Soseki's Botchan. It sells the original Botchan dango and shoyu-mochi.
Yunomachi Bakery
A bakery near Dogo Onsen. It opens early in the morning and sells items such as salt bread with ice cream, mentaiko baguettes and raw doughnuts.
Poem Dogo Yunomachi
A directly run shop for the Ehime confection Poem (Bomu). Its wide range includes seasonal items, making it useful for choosing souvenirs.
Dogo Purin
A pudding specialist with a Taisho-era retro feel, known for Dogo Purin topped with a whole mandarin. A range of flavours is available.
my botchan dango 30.
A Botchan dango specialist that opened in April 2025. Choosing three fillings from thirty to make your own dango is a popular part of the visit.
Mamekichi Honpo Dogo Haikara-dori
A shop on Dogo Haikara-dori specialising in bean confectionery. It stocks a range of Japanese and Western flavours, suited to eating as you walk or taking home as a gift.
More "Stone Monuments & Poem Steles" spots
See all in this category →Sakai Mokuzen Haiku Monument (Iwaidani Community Center)
A haiku monument with a haiku by Sakai Mokuzen stands in front of Iwaidani Kominkan in Matsuyama. It is one of the haiku monuments scattered throughout Matsuyama.
Sakai Mokuzen Haiku Monument (Matsuyama Shrine)
A haiku monument inscribed with a poem by Saiwai Mokuzen stands within the grounds of Matsuyamajinja in Iwaidani, Matsuyama. It can be viewed along with visiting the shrine.
Yanagihara Kyokudo Haiku Monument
A haiku monument is located in Hojoen, in front of Dogo Onsen Honkan. It commemorates Ryu Hiroshi (1867–1957), a poet from Matsuyama. Ryu Hiroshi founded the literary magazine 'Hototogisu' in Matsuyama in 1897, and became the first honorary citizen of Matsuyama City.
Sakai Mokuzen Haiku Monument (Iwazeki Amusement Park)
A haiku monument inscribed with a poem by Sakai Mokuzen, standing in the amusement park at Iwazeki in Ishite, Matsuyama. It can be seen while walking the area.
Monument to the Merits of Isaniwa
A monument in Dogo Park. It honours Isaniwa Yukiya, the first mayor of Dogo Yunomachi, who led the 1894 (Meiji 27) rebuilding of Dogo Onsen Honkan. The Honkan is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property.
Kobayashi Issa Haiku Monument
The Kobayashi Issa haiku monument is located in Dogo Park, in front of the Shiki Memorial Museum. It transmits haiku from the prominent poet of the late Edo period.
Natsume Soseki Haiku Monument
A haiku monument in Dogo Park. It commemorates Natsume Soseki (1867–1916), the author known by the pen name “Gudabutsu.” Natsume Soseki was assigned to Matsuyama in 1895, and that experience was reflected in the novel *Botchan*.
Masaoka Shiki Haiku Monument (Ishite-ji Temple Approach)
A haiku monument of Masaoka Shiki is located on the approach to Ishite-ji Temple, the 51st pilgrimage temple in Shikoku. It can be visited along with a visit to Ishite-ji Temple, known for its National Treasure, Nio-mon.